June Response

June 1999

"Prison Ministry and Restorative Justice"

"Bible Study: Jesus' Path to Restoring Justice" by David Wildman

This Bible Study looks at the life and death of Jesus. Crowds in one week went from shouting "Hosanna!" to "Execute Him." It looks at the way Jesus' non-violent actions disturbed armed peace; the way forgiveness and love can be threatening; and today's challenge to be in sacred solidarity with anyone imprisoned or oppressed by injustice. Read this study.

"A Question of Justice" by Tanya McClary

This article relays the horrifying story of one woman's incarceration in a minimum-security prison, and how she was assaulted, gang raped and continuously denied medical attention while incarcerated. It also explores disturbing trends in incarceration and death penalty statistics; the color of those imprisoned; the rise in female incarceration; the idea that rehabilitation is no longer part of our prison systems; and how Christians can hold unjust systems accountable.

"The Prison Boom" by Sam Hine

It's the fastest growing industry in America. Once of the most influential political lobbies. A hot ticket on the New York Stock Exchange. It's the United States Prison System, which continues to grow even though violent crimes are at a 25-year low. This article looks at the rush to incarcerate, the privatization of the prison system, and the way some people can profit by others' imprisonment. This article explores tough questions about these issues and looks at alternatives.

"Help Wanted: Prison Labor" by A. Victoria Hunter

As the number of prisons and prisoners in the United States grows, so is the number of inmates who have found in jail what many could not buy in the free world: a job. But at what price? Increasingly prisoners are manufacturing products and providing services for private companies for wages as low as 28 cents an hour. This article looks at this trend, the controversy behind it, and the work to build coalitions against such exploitation. Read this article.

"Growing Pains: The Rising Numbers of Women in Prison" by Annie M. Bovian

This article looks at the nation's "war on drugs" and mandatory drug sentencing, which has had a staggering impact on women. It explores the Women's Advocate Ministry, a crisis intervention program to give support services to women in jail and to help deal with their problems, which differ from male prisoners.

"Children Behind Bars" by Jo Swarc

This article shares the findings of a recent Amnesty International report entitled, "Betraying the Young: Human Rights Violations Against Children in the U.S. Justice System." With more than 3700 children locked up with the general adult population in more than 40 U.S. states, children are at risk. This article looks at the government-perpetuated myths about these children, explores concerns about imprisoned children, and looks at haunting reports on how some of these children have been treated.

"Political Prisoners in the United States" by C. Nozomi Ikuta

This article explores stories of the more than one hundred political prisoners within the United States; the penalties that far exceed the usual punishment for similar actions committed for apolitical reasons; the number of cases; and the idea that many of these political prisoners are part of a long history of radical dissent and resistance.

"Fatally Flawed: The Death Penalty" by Pat Clark

With more than 3500 people under the sentence of death, this article looks at the way capital punishment continues to be an inherently flawed practice. With glaring racism inherent in the death penalty system and with human error leading to the execution of numerous innocent people, this article also explores the morality and call to Christian conscience to oppose this penalty.

"An Ounce of Prevention" by Yvette Moore

This article is a hopeful story of restoring lives and communities through some of our United Methodist Mission institutions. This article looks at the support offered to crime victims, programs that are alternatives to incarceration, and prevention work as a remedy to preventing crimes. Read this article.

"Restorative Justice: A Better Way" by Harmon L. Wray

This article looks at the new United Methodist Office for Restorative Justice, started under a mandate of the 1996 General Conference and with funding from the General Board of Global Ministries. The restorative justice process makes accountability and dialogue a responsibility, creating a system of restoration and reconciliation.

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